Target device



Sept. 14, 1965 c. E. JACKSON 3,206,196

TARGET DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 2 30 Carl E'.Jackson INVENTOR.

BY MM 25% P 1965 c. E. JACKSON 3,206,196

TARGET DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3

$2 44 Fig. 6

E j 52 30 j 56 Carl E Jackson 28 I 24 INVENTOR.

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(Fwy M np 14, 1965 c. E. JACKSON 3,206,196

' TARGET DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1962 5 s t 5 3 /6 [231E369 mu l I! x (ICarl E Jackson INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,206,196 TARGET DEVICE Carl E. Jackson, 537 LocustSt., Perry, Okla. Filed Nov. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 240,252 15 Claims. (Cl.27326) This invention generally relates to a target device and morespecifically to a target device at which baseballs may be thrown and theaccuracy of the hit upon the target recorded in a suitable manner.

In brief, the invention comprises a device comprising a strike zone anda ball zone. Upon a ball entering either of these two zones, a visualindication of the quality of the pitch will be given. Further, theinvention comprises an elastically supported net disposed in front ofand in close proximity to the strike zone and ball zone of the devicewhereupon a ball striking the same will be returned to the pitcherwithout any additional effort on his part. The target device furthercomprises novel means whereby after a visual indication of either threestrikes or four balls, another pitch of the quality of a strike or ballrespectively, will automatically cancel the visual indication andactuate the target device to begin registering for another series ofpitches.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a target devicefor testing the skill of a baseball pitcher and visually indicating thequality of a thrown pitch.

A still further object resides in features of the target device whereinthe thrown pitch is automatically returned to the pitcher.

A still further object is to provide a device of the character indicatedwherein automatic means are provided for cancelling the visualindication of the qualities of pitches thrown and reset the device foranother series of pitches.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter set forth which is comparatively simple in construction,relatively inexpensive to manufacture yet effective and efficient inuse.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the target device and visualindication system.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the target device and visual indicationsystem taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 ofFIGURE 3 and illustrating the backboard and spring switch armsincorporated in the present invention.

FlGURE 5 is a schematic diagram for the electrical circuit for thevisual indication system and further shows means for automaticallyresetting the device for the next series of pitches.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic schematic diagram simulating the switcharrangement of the target device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein the same numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several views shown, the numeral 10generally designates the target device which comprises the subjectmatter of the instant invention. The target device is supported uponsuitable legs 12 and 14 which are rigidly attached to a backboard 16.Mounted upon said backboard 16 are two sets of visual indicating meansof light banks 18 and 20. There are three lights in the series 18, eachone of which indicates a pitch which is the quality of a strike.

3,206,196 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 There are four lights in the series 20each one of which designates the pitch thrown as a ball. It is readilyapparent that this lighting arrangement simulates the greatest number ofpitches which may be thrown to any one batter before disposing of himeither by a walk or strikeout.

Also mounted on the backboard 16, are a series of bolts 22 arranged in arectangular pattern upon the backboard. Said bolts 22 are threaded asindicated at 24 and cooperate with threaded apertures in the backboardto vary the longitudinal extent of the bolts on the front side of thebackboard. Mounted at the front end of the bolts 22 is a frame 26 formedof tubular material, and substantially rectangular in shape. Suspendedfrom spaced portions of said frame 26 are a plurality of elastic bands28. Attached to the elastic bands 28 is a nylon or cord nettinggenerally designated as 30, suitably tensioned so that upon being struckby a baseball, the net will be forced backward initially, but willrebound to its original position under the urging of the elastic bands28 thereby returning the baseball from where it came. It should be notedthat the net may be longitudinally adjusted with respect to thebackboard by means of the threaded portions of the supporting bolts 22cooperating with the backboard.

Interdisposed between the netting and the backboard is a ball zone plate32 having a centrally disposed square aperture 34 cut therein. Said ballzone plate 32 is sus pended from the backboard 16 by means of bolts 36and is slidably disposed thereon. The ball zone plate 32 issubstantially rectangular in shape and overlies a series of verticallyand horizontally spaced resilient spring switch arms 38. Said switcharms 38 are attached to the backboard 16 by means of a bolt 40 mountingthe switch arms 38 on the backboard 16. Interdisposed between thebackboard and switch arms 38 is an insulating block 42 which is alsoretained against the backboard by means of the bolts 40. Said bolts 40also serve as contact elements of a circuit and there are two suchelements on each insulator block 42 for the purpose hereinafterdescribed. The ball zone plate 32 is adapted to be displacedlongitudinally with respect to the backboard 16 upon being struck by abaseball. Mounted and encircling each of the supporting bolts 36 of theball zone plate 32 are coil springs 44, whereupon the ball zone platebeing displaced longitudinally towards the backplate 16, the coilsprings 44 return the ball zone plate to its initial position. Upon itsbackward movement, due to being struck by a baseball, the plate 32 willurge the resilient spring arm 38 which is adjacent the area of baseballcontact with the ball zone plate, backwards, simultaneously closing acircuit by bridging normally open contacts or bolts 40 which form a partof said circuit. This circuit, as will hereinafter be described,actuates the visual indication means of the ball series to indicate apitch of that quality. It should be noted that the ball after makingcontact with the ball zone plate 32 which in turn compresses the springarm 38 to bridge the contacts 40, will be returned to the pitcher due tothe elasticity of the net 38.

Disposed rearwardly of the rectangular aperture 34 in the ball zoneplate 32, but spaced in front of the backboard 16 is a strike zone plate46. Said strike Zone plate 46 is mounted upon the backboard for relativemovement in respect thereto by means of threaded bolts 48 which alsoreceive encircling coil springs 50 so that upon the longitudinaldisplacement of the strike zone plate 46 relative to the backboard 16 bymeans of sliding said plate upon the bolts 48, the'coil springs 50 willreturn the same to its normal position. Upon being urged rearwardly by abaseball entering the strike zone, the plate 46 urges a resilient springarm 52 rearwardly to bridge contacts 54 mounting said spring arm on thebackboard. Said contacts or bolts 54 are separated from the resilientspring arm except at the point of contact by means of an insulatingblock 56, upon which the spring arm is mounted. Upon the spring arm 52bridging contacts 54 a suitable electrical circuit is closed to indicatea pitch of the strike quality upon the visual indicating means 18. Itshould be noted that the net 30 is suitably tensioned so that a baseballstriking the net may also strike the strike zone plate 46 and move thesame rearwardly and then due to the elastic force of the net 30 thebaseball may be returned to the pitcher.

Attention is directed to FIGURE wherein the novel circuitry forconnecting the ball zone plate and strike zone plate to the visualindicating means is depicted. Said circuit comprises strike zone switch52 and an illustrative ball zone switch 38. The switch 52 is connectedin a line 58 which is attached to a solenoid 60. The solenoid 60 hasanother conductor 62 extending therefrom and connected to conductor 64.The conductor 64 is attached to a battery 66, and another conductor 68extends from the battery 66 to a manual switch 70. The switch 70 isnormally closed and disposed in a line 72 leading to a solenoid 74. Theswitch 70 also connects line'58, which contains strike zone switch 52 tothe battery 66 as well as connecting line 76 which contains ball zoneswitch 38. The line 76 is connected to another solenoid 78, which has aconductor 80 extending therefrom to the line 64. The solenoids 60 and 78have armatures 82 and 84 extending therefrom. Pivotally mounted uponarmature 82 is a pawl 86, and pivotally mounted upon the armature 84 isa pawl 88. The pawls 86 and 88 are normally engaged with ratchet teeth90 disposed on gears 92 and 94. The gears 92 and 94 each has a cammember 96 formed integral therewith and cooperating with the cam member96 on the gear 92 is a movable conductor 98. In contact with the cammember 96 on the gear 94 is a movable conductor 100. The conductor 98 isadapted to make contact upon movement with a series of contact points102, and the movable conductor 100 is adapted to make contact with asecond series of contact points 104. Each one of said contact points102, except for the last one in this series is connected with anindicating lamp 106 in the visual indicating means 18. Each lamp 106 isalso connected to the line 64. Similarly, each one of the contact points104, except for the last one of the series is connected to lampindicating means 108 of the visual indicating means 20. Each one of saidlamps is also connected to the line 64 therefore putting it in serieswith the battery 66. The visual indicating means for the individuallamps are actuated as follows: upon a strike being thrown, resilientswitch arm 52 will be closed. This will cause current to flow from thebattery 66 through line 68, manual switch 70, conductor 58 throughsolenoid 60, line 64 and thus back to the battery 66. As noted this willactuate the solenoid 60. Upon being actuated, the armature 82 will beretracted, thus raising the pawl 86 vertically and moving the gear 92one increment by means of the pawl having contact with the ratchet teeth90 thereon. This will cause cam member 96 to engage movable conductor 98which will be connected to the first contact point 102 of the strikeseries. A circuit will thus be established from battery 66 throughconductor 68, through closed manual switch 70 through line 52, movableconductor 98, point contact 102 through the first lamp 106 in the strikevisualizing means back through conductor 64 to the battery 66. Afterswitch 52 is opened due to the baseball being returned to the pitcher,solenoid 60 will be deactuated moving the pivotal pawl to engage beneaththe next ratchet tooth 90 and hold the gear 92 in its incrementallyadjusted position. For each subsequent strike thrown, this action willbe repeated, and the movable conductor 98 will be advanced anotherincrement causing the first contact point 102 to engage the nextsucceeding contact 102 closing the circuit to the next strike indicatinglamp 106. In a similar manner, on closing of a ball switch arm 38solenoid 78 will be actuated, thus moving the gear 94 through means ofpawl 88 cooperating with ratchet teeth one increment causing movableconductor to make contact with the first point contact in series 104thus actuating the lamp indicating means 108 in the ball visualizationseries 20.

An automatic control has been provided, wherein a fourth strike or afifth ball pitched will automatically clear the visual indication meansto make the same responsive to a next series of pitches. This meanscomprises solenoid 74 which has an armature 110 which is adapted tocontact a laterally extending pin 112 on each of the gears 92, 94 whenthe pins have been sufficiently rotated to a position adjacent thearmature 110 due to the incremental movement of the gears. This occursafter three strikes have been indicated or four balls. The last pointcontact 102 and 104 of each series are connected by a conductor 114. Theconductor 114 is also connected to the solenoid 74 by means of aconductor 116. Upon a fourth strike closing switch 52 the gear 92 willbe caused to move movable conductor 98 another increment therebyconnecting last point contact 102 to the battery 66, whereupon a circuitis completed actuating solenoid 74. This circuit extends from battery 66to conductor 68, manual switch 70, line 72, through solenoid 74 outthrough line 116 through point contact 102 to conductor 98 to line 52 tosolenoid 60 back through line 64 to the battery. This will cause thearmature 110 to be extended striking pins 112, causing them to berotated in reverse rotation to the above described incremental movement.The force of the armature 110 striking the pins 112 is suflicient toovercome the retainment of the ratchet teeth by pawls 86 and 88 and willpivot the pawls to a non-engaged position. When the armature 110 iswithdrawn after a short time delay pawls 86 and 88 engage between theratchet teeth to therefore condition the circuit for the next series ofpitches. Likewise, when a fifth ball is pitched, movable conductor 100is caused to move to place the last point contact 104 in the series incircuit and also actuate solenoid 74 to extend armature 110. Thiscircuit extends to the battery 66 to conductor 68, manual switch 70,line 72 through solenoid 74, line 116, line 114 to point contact 104,conductor 100, line 76, solenoid 78, line 80 and back to the batterythrough line 64. It should also be noted, that the pitcher may turn offthe visual indication means by simply opening manual switch 70 and thusdisconnecting the visual indicating means from the source of electricalenergy.

FIGURE 6 indicates generally a schematic diagram simulating the locationof the various switches on the backboard 16. For example, each ballswitch arm 38 comprises a pair of contacts 122 and strike zone switcharm 52 a pair of contacts 124. All of said switches communicate throughan automatic control box 120 which contains circuitry similar to thatshown in FIGURE 5, to actuate the various lamp indicating means.

The operation of the target device may be briefly summarized as follows:a

A ball is pitched and strikes the netting 30 adjacent a ball zone or thestrike zone. The netting is deflected and the ball continues itsrearward flight striking either ball zone plate 34 or strike zone plate36. This causes the depression of a resilient spring switch arm which inturn closes a circuit which will give a visual indication of the qualityof the pitch. The pitched ball, due to the elasticity of the nettingwill be returned to the pitcher. Upon the recordation of three pitchedstrikes or four pitched balls another pitched strike or ballrespectively will automatically clear the visual indication means andcondiii01I11 the circuit thereof for a next series of pitched baseba s.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A target device for simulating a baseball strike and ball zonecomprising a backboard, a ball zone plate reciprocally mounted on thebackboard and including a centrally located rectangular aperture formedtherein, a strike zone plate reciprocally mounted on the backboard anddisposed between said ball zone plate and backboard and in alignmentwith the aperture in the ball zone plate whereby pitched baseballshaving the quality of a strike will pass through the rectangularaperture in the ball zone plate and contact the strike zone plate orotherwise a pitched ball will contact the ball zone plate therebycausing one of the plates to reciprocate, means for returning thebaseball to the pitcher mounted on the backboard in alignment and atleast conterminous with the outer periphery of said ball zone platewhereby the pitched ball will contact said means for returning the ballprior to contacting either of said plates, visual indication means forindicating the quality of the pitch as a strike or ball and meansresponsive to the reciprocation of the ball zone plate and strike zoneplate for evaluating the quality of the pitch and actuating the visualindication means.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said evaluating means furtherincludes means for automatically cancelling the visual indication afterthe registering of three strikes or four balls.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said means for returning thebaseball to the pitcher includes a net disposed in front of the ballzone plate and strike zone plate and elastic means mounting the net uponthe backboard Whereby the net will move rearwardly upon being struck bya baseball and revert to its initial position throwing the baseball backto the pitcher.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the net is adjustable to vary thedistance between it and the ball zone and strike zone plates.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said visual indication meanscomprises two banks of lights, the first bank including three lightssimulating three strikes and the second bank including four lightssimulating four balls.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said evaluating means comprises aplurality of normally open ball zone and strike zone switches adapted tobe closed upon reciprocal movement of said ball zone plate or strikezone plate and electrical circuit means responsive to the closing ofsaid switches to actuate the visual indication means.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein said electrical circuit meansfurther includes two series of point contacts, each of the pointcontacts except the last in each series being electrically connected tothe visual indication means, a source of electrical energy electricallyconnected to a movable conductor associated with each series of pointcontacts and means for engaging said point contacts with its associatedmovable conductor thereby actuating the visual indication means, saidmeans being activated by the closing of the ball zone or strike zoneswitches.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said last named means comprises apair of rotatable ratchet gears each having a cam portion adapted uponrotation of said gears to move said movable conductors into engagementwith said series of point contacts, pawls cooperating with the ratchetteeth on said gears and adapted to rotate said gear a small incrementand electrical means for moving said pawls thereby rotating said gears,said means being activated upon the closing of the ball zone or strikezone switches.

9. The structure of claim 6 wherein said electrical circuit meansfurther includes a manually operated switch to deactivate the visualindication means.

10. The structure of claim 1 wherein the ball zone plate and strike zoneplate are reciprocally mounted upon the backboard by means ofcompression springs.

11. A target device for simulating a baseball strike and ball zonecomprising a backboard; a ball zone plate reciprocally mounted on thebackboard and including a centrally located rectangular aperture formedtherein; a strike zone plate reciprocally mounted on the backboard anddisposed between said ball zone plate and backboard and in alignmentwith the aperture in the ball zone plate whereby pitched baseballshaving the quality of a strike will pass through the rectangularaperture in the ball zone plate and contact the strike zone plate orotherwise a pitched ball will contact the ball zone plate therebycausing one of the plates to reciprocate; means mounted on the backboardfor returning the baseball to the pitcher, visual indication means forindicating the quality of the pitch as a strike or ball; means forevaluating the quality of the pitch and actuating the visual indicationmeans including a plurality of normally open ball zone and strike zoneswitches adapted to be closed upon reciprocal movement of said ball zoneplate or strike zone plate, two series of point contacts having eachcontact except the last in each series electrically connected with saidvisual indication means, a movable conductor connected with a source ofelectrical energy and associated with each series of point contacts, apair of rotatable ratchet gears each having a cam portion thereonadapted upon rotation of said gears to move said movable contacts intoengagement with their associated series of point contacts, pawlscooperable with the ratchet gears to rotate said gears in increments,electrical means activated by the closing of the ball zone or strikezone switches for moving said pawls and thereby rotate said gears; and,means for automatically cancelling the visual indication after theregistering of three strikes or four balls, said means including a pinrigidly attached to each said ratchet gear, electrically activated meansadapted to engage said pins to rotate said gears in a direction oppositeto their previous incremental rotation thereby moving said cam portionout of engagement with said movable conductor whereby said pointcontacts are released and the established electrical circuit is broken.

12. A target device for simulating a baseball strike zone comprising abackboard, a strike zone plate reciprocally mounted on the backboard,means mounted on the backboard for returning a thrown baseball to thepitcher in alignment and at least conterminous with said strike zoneplate whereby the pitched ball contacts said means for returning theball prior to contacting said plate, visual indication means forindicating the quality of the pitch as a strike and means responsive tothe reciprocation of the strike zone plate for evaluating the quality ofthe pitch and actuating the visual indication means, said last mentionedmeans including means for automatically cancelling the visual indicationafter the registration of three strikes.

13. The target device of claim 12 wherein said means for returning thebaseball to the pitcher includes a net disposed in front of said strikezone plate and a frame peripherally supporting said net mounted on saidbackboard and adjustable relative thereto, whereby said net can be movedtoward or away from said strike zone plate.

14. The target device of claim 15 wherein said means for automaticallycancelling said visual indication includes a point contact in saidseries of point contacts and means electrically connected with saidpoint contact for moving said movable contact out of engagement withsaid series of point contacts upon closing of said point contactwhereupon said lights are de-energized.

15. The target device of claim 12 wherein said visual indication meansincludes three lights; a series of point contacts having each pointcontact electrically connected with a respective light; a movableconductor associated with said series of point contacts and electricallyconnected with a source of electrical energy; switch means operable inresponse to reciprocating movement of said 7 8 strike zone plate; and,means for moving said movable a References Cited by the Examinerconductor into engagement with said point contacts in V UNITED STATESPATENTS response to actuation of said switch means, whereby each vofsaid lights is lighted sequentially in response to a 1O18409 2/12 Culp273-403 X 2,251,305 8/41 Tarbox 273-1022 pltched baseball striking saidstrike zone plate and re- 5 3 104 874 9/63 Slimovitz mains lighted untilde-energized by said means for autoy matically cancelling the visualindication. RICHARD C PINKHAM, Primary Examiner

12. A TARGET DEVICE FOR SIMULATING A BASEBALL STRIKE ZONE COMPRISING ABACKBOARD, A STRIKE ZONE PLATE RECIPROCALLY MOUNTED ON THE BACKBOARD,MEANS MOUNTED ON THE BACKBOARD FOR RETURNING A THROWN BASEBALL TO THEPITCHER IN ALIGNMENT AND AT LEAST CONTERMINOUS WITH SAID STRIKE ZONEPLATE WHEREBY THE PITCHED BALL CONTACTS SAID MEANS FOR RETURNING THEBALL PRIOR TO CONTACTING SAID PLATE, VISUAL INDIVATION MEANS FORINDICATING THE QUALITY OF THE PITCH AS A STRIKE AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TOTHE RECIPROCATION OF THE STRIKE ZONE PLATE FOR EVALUATING THE QUALITY OFTHE PITCH AND ACTUATING THE VISUAL INDICATION MEANS, SAID LASTM ENTIONEDMEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CANCELLING THE VISUAL INDICATIONAFTER THE REGISTRATION OF THREE STRIKES.